President Obama is urging his political supporters to begin preparing for the 2010 midterm elections in a new video message.

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama is urging political supporters to begin preparing for the 2010 midterm elections in a new video message in which he warns that failure to keep Congress in Democratic hands will be a major blow to his agenda.

In the two-minute and 42-second video released Monday, Obama emphasizes that the key to victory for Democrats in November will be convincing the people who helped fuel his 2008 White House bid - first-time voters - to head to the polls for the second time in two years even though he is not on the ballot.

"It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 stand together once again," Obama says in the video that was sent to the 13 million people on his Organizing for America's email list. OFA was the Obama presidential campaign organization that is now housed at the Democratic National Committee.

Democratic candidates head into the midterm elections saddled with a struggling economy, a national unemployment rate near double digits, home foreclosures and a nation split over the recently enacted health care reform law. All of this has contributed to voter antipathy toward incumbent politicians and has prompted predictions that Republicans will pick up seats in the House and Senate.

In the video, Obama touts the health care reform law and highlights his administration's efforts to help revive the economy, but the president also cautions supporters that key parts of his agenda could be reversed if the GOP takes back control of Congress.

"But despite everything we've done, our work isn't finished," Obama says in the video. "Today, the health insurance companies, the Wall Street banks, and the special interests who have ruled Washington for too long are already focused on November's congressional elections.

"They see these elections as a chance to put their allies back in power, and undo all that we have accomplished. So this year, I need your help once more."

The DNC is expected to pump $50 million into the midterm elections to try and help House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates.

Still, Obama focuses on the importance of the 2008 first-time voter to Democrats' electoral success in his political video message.

"[I]f you help us make sure that first-time voters in 2008 make their voices heard again in November, then together we will deliver on the promise of change, and hope, and prosperity for generations to come," he says.

soundoff(101 Responses)

Anthony R. Seta

I'm focused prez!!! I'll be sure to vote and am already working to get others registered to vote for democratic candidates this year. There is a lot of opposition to the GOP agenda (i.e. the non-existent domestic agenda based solely on opposition to Obama). The republican party has shown its true colors over the past two years. We know who they are, and certainly don't want them to govern (ha ha) the nation. That would be a disaster.